Homoeopathy — Page 339
Gelsemium 339 GELSEMIUM Gelsemium is prepared from jasmine bearing yellow flowers. It is a very frequently used Homoeopathic medicine. To an extent, it resembles Aconite and Belladonna; however, diseases of Gelsemium progress rather slowly compared to both Aconite and Belladonna. There is sudden rush of blood towards the head, causing headache. The mouth becomes dry. These three symptoms are common to Aconite, Belladonna and Gelsemium. In the case of Aconite, the face is flushed and warm, but there is no such warmth in case of Gelsemium. Constitutionally, it is a cold remedy. The mouth is dry, yet there is no thirst. Gelsemium symptoms do not appear until after two to three days after exposure to the cold. Gelsemium would certainly be indicated if a child contracts illness after having been exposed to the cold. If the illness comes on suddenly and severely from exposure to cold, then Aconite and Belladonna combined will be much more effective. According to Dr. Kent, the symptoms of nasal catarrh set in a few days after exposure to the cold. One might presume that being a cold- natured medicine, Gelsemium’s illnesses would be more prevalent in the winter and similarly the illnesses of Aconite would be more prevalent in the summer. In fact, the situation is the exact opposite (Aconite is used more often in the winter and Gelsemium more in the summertime). When one is exposed to cold in the summertime, Gelsemium will be of greater benefit. Thus, Gelsemium is most commonly used in dry, hot weather. However, when acute dysentery (along with the passing of lot of blood) is contracted in the drier part of the summer, Aconite will be the best treatment to work and does so equally well in the dry months of summer as well as winter. Gelsemium is commonly used to treat headaches and catarrhal illnesses but not for the treatment of diarrhoea. However, it has been found to work extremely well for the chronic type of diarrhoea associated with the body being cold, a heaviness of the head and a complete absence of thirst in spite of the mouth being dry. Thus, it is a treatment of diarrhoea as well. In spite of the fact that the Gelsemium ailments progress rather slowly, it is rarely used in the treatment of chronic diseases. Its use